Useful Contacts

In addition to the information, advice and support offered by the SDS Forum ER, there are several other local and national organisations on hand to help.

Alzheimer Scotland: Action on Dementia
Alzheimer Scotland provides a wide range of specialist services for people with dementia and their carers. They offer personalised support services, community activities, information and advice, at every stage of the dementia journey.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
These services work with children and young people and their parents or carers. Based in Barrhead Health Centre. They can be contacted by phoning the reception desk directly on 0141 800 7005

Counselling Directory
Counselling Directory is a confidential service that encourages those in distress to seek help. The directory contains information on many different types of distress, as well as articles, news, and events. To ensure the professionalism of the website, all counsellors have to give qualifications and insurance cover or proof of membership with a professional body.

Directory of Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) in ScotlandThis is a short and easy to use directory, and is designed to help you to get in touch with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) in Scotland. This directory is not an exhaustive list of DPOs in Scotland, there are many others, however, this list is a helpful starting point and the organisations listed here will be able to signpost you.

East Renfrewshire Carers’ CentreProvide a full programme of support to carers and young carers.
For adult carers they can provide respite and short break opportunities, stress management and relaxation classes, support groups and activities when the carer can get away from the house for a short period of time and away from the stresses of being a Carer.

East Renfrewshire Council, Social Work Department
For a first assessment you should contact the main social work duty team. Remember to write down the name of the person who takes your call and the time and date; ask how long it might be before you are assessed. If you have already had an assessment then you should contact your social worker or care manager.

East Renfrewshire Good Causes
ER Good Causes is a local charity that has helped people in East Renfrewshire with £198,451 worth of goods. They offer charitable grants to those who need support with equipment, home adaptations and other aspects of living a full life. They accept referrals through SDS Forum ER, East Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre, another front line professionals, ministers and support staff.

East Renfrewshire Disability ActionEast Renfrewshire Disability Action (ERDA) members consist of people who are disabled, non-disabled and carers. The group was launched at the Barriers & Bridges Community Conference event in March 2011. Then as now, it is important there is a local disability organisation to raise the issues and concerns of disabled people at a local and national level.

East Renfrewshire ASN Parents Action Group (ERA)Local parents have set up a group for additonal support needs families within East Renfrewshire who have children and young people aged between 0-25 years of age and their siblings and other family members. Our aims are to support parents and families, set up social groups and events for ASN children and siblings and to widen appreciation of additional support needs within the local community

Enable Local Area Co-ordinators
Local Area Co-ordinators work alongside children and adults with a learning disability and their families. We work to help people become more confident, supporting them to achieve their dreams and build good lives. We also work alongside communities, groups and organisations, supporting them to become more welcoming and inclusive. Please feel free to call us to chat informally about your current circumstances or to arrange to meet one of the team, 0141 620 0287.

Respite Now
Useful for: help with employing personal assistants, risk assessments and first aid courses and supplies for employers of PAs. They also have information on innovative respite breaks, brokerage and employability courses.

Please note: There might be a cost attached to their services

Scottish Association For Mental Health (SAMH)
Around since 1923, SAMH currently operates over 60 services in communities across Scotland providing mental health social care support, homelessness, addictions and employment services, among others. These services together with our national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention, sport and physical activity; inform our policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.

Scottish Government
Useful for: finding out more about the new Social Care (Self-directed Support)(Scotland) Act 2013 and whether you’re eligible, along with frequently asked questions and information for carers, service providers and professionals.

Self-Directed Support Scotland
Useful for: information about SDS in Scotland, along with training and support for groups and organisations considering working on SDS.

Therapy DirectoryPromotes the benefits of complementary therapy and aim to give visitors all the information they need to help them make an informed decision about whether therapy would be right for them. The website has an FAQ’s section, a number of useful articles written by its members and the facility to search for a practitioner in your area.

Turn 2 Us – Access to benefits and grants
Turn2us is a free service that helps people in financial need to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through our partner organisations.